Spectacle or eyeglass case.



I Patentednn. l5; lm.

(No Model) Geol/lf WELLS G W WELLS .SPECTACLE 0R EYEGLSS CASE.

(Apximion med'mf. 29, 1900.)

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`vNTTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

GEORGE w. wELLs, or soUTHERIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECTACLE OR EYEGLASS CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No, 666,124, dated January 1 5, 1901.

' Application filed March Z9, 1900. Serial No. 10,598. (No model.)

To all whom 25 may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spectacle or Eyeglass Cases, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to eyeglass or spectacle cases; and the object of my invention is to provide an improved eyeglass or spectacle case having one part of the case hinged to the other part, a spring for closing and holding closed the hinged part, and means having an engaging portion on the outer surface of the case for opening and holding open the hinged part.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction of my improved eyeglass or spectacle case, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of an eyeglass-case embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the case at a point indicated by line 2 2, Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow, same figure, showing the hinged part open; and Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the case shown in Figs. l and 2 with the part around the spring-hinge and the opener broken away to more clearly illustrate the same.

In the acco mpanying drawings the eyeglasscase shown is preferably made of metal, which may be covered with leather in the ordinary way, and consists of the bodyportion l, of the ordinary shape, and the lid 2, which in this instance is connected with the body portion l, to have a hinged motion thereon, by a dat spring-plate 3, extending upon the under side ot' the body portion 1 and the lid 2 and attachedthereto atits ends by rivets 4,as shown. An opening or recess l is made in the edge of the body portion and an opening 2l in the edge of the lid portion at their contiguousl edges at the point where the spring 3 extends to furnish an opening for said spring to extend in when the lid 2, is raised, as shown in Fig. 2. The spring 3 acts in this instance as a hinge connection for the lid 2 and also acts to close and keep closed `the lid 2, as shown in Fig. l.

In connection with the lid 2 I employ means to be operated by the user from the outside of the case to raise the lid 2 and hold it raised, as shown in Fig. 2, for the insertion or removal of the eyeglasses. In this instance said means consists of a knob 5, extending upon the outer surface of the body of the case, as shown, and attached at its inner surface to one end 4of'a wire 6, extending loosely through a hole in the body of the case, and in a plate 7, which is riveted upon the under surface of the body of the ease, as shown. The wire 6 extends through an opening 7 in the plate 7 and is coiled around the end of said plate with one or more coils, as shown in Fig. 3, to have a pivotal motion at this point. The free end 6 of the wire 6 is bent upwardly and engages the lid 2 near its hinged edge, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of my improved eyeglass or spectacle case will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art from the above description in connection with the drawings. The spring-plate 3 acts to hold the lid 2 in its closed position, and when it is desired to raise or open the lid, as shown in Fig. 2, to remove or insert the glasses the user presses his thumb or finger on the knob 5, which communicates a pivotal motion to the wire 6 on its pivotal support and through the engagement of the free end thereof with the-lid 2 raises the lid, as shown in Fig. 2, and holds it in its raised position as long as the knob is pressed inwardly. When the knob 5 is released, the spring-plate 3 acts to close the lid, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of the case having straight parallel sides and curved ends. In other respects the construction and operation of the case corresponds to the case shown in Figs. 1 and 2, above described.

It will be understood that the details of construction of my improved eyeglass-case may be varied, if desired, and any suitable form of spring may be employed in lieu of the spring-plate 3 to act to close the lid and hold it closed, and the lid 2 may be hinged to the IOO body portion l by a rod or pintle havinga. spring thereon. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an eyeglass or spectacle case, the cornbination With the body of the case, having the part thereof forming the lid hinged to the body by a Hat integral spring-plate eX- tending upon the under side of the lid and the body portion, and secured thereto, of means independent of the lid and spring-hinge for opening and holding open the lid, consisting of a knob upon the outer surface of the body of the case and attached to one end of a wire, and said Wire having a coil therein by which it is pivotally attached to the inner side of the case With its free end engaging the lid, substantially as shown and described.

2. 1n an eyeglass or spectacle case, the com- `and bodyportion having a recess or opening in their contiguous edges Where said spring extends, of means for opening and holding open the lid, consisting of a knob upon the outer surface of the body of the case and at -tached to one end of a wire, and said Wire having a coil therein by which it is pivotally attached to the inner side of the case, with its free end engaging` the lid, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE W. WELLS.

Witnesses:

J. C. WELLS, E. E. SUBIN. 

